Swing



C. DAHL Sept'. 19, 1933.

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0 Tad pmu@ AIL* www@ Patented Sept. 19, 1933 SWING Conrad Dahl, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne as- A signments, to Kiddie Gym Co. Inc., Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application February 16, 1931. Serial No. 516,071l

12 Claims.

The invention relates to swings for use at childrens playgrounds or the like.

The general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved swing of this type which may be easily brought into action, which provides ample safety to the rider or riders, and which is simple and inexpensive to'construct.

A particular object is to insure that the rider at the side toward which the swing is moving shall not slip off his seat. This object is attained by a construction that causes the seat portion to tilt in such a direction as to counteract the centrifugal force that tends to cause the child to slide off his seat.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a swing embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational View similar to Fig. 1 but showing the relative movement of parts of the swing.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan section taken on 25 the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the right-hand end of the swing as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modied form of swing.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the right-hand end of the swing shown in Fig. 5.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, l have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention tothe specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modications and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit vand scope oi the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises generally a` support from which is suspended a major or rst swinging element by means of two coaxial pivots. A short distance above the lower end of the major element, a minor or secondary swinging element is pivotally supported, the major element beingv the sole'support of the minor element. A carriage is suprported on the lower end of the minor element to provide a seating space for a rider or riders. Be low the point of support of the minor element, a hand-.bar is ksecured to the major element by which the rider or riders may push or pull to swing the minor element periodically relative to the major element, the minor element gradually causes the major element to swing. When it is desired to let the swing coast, the swinging of the minor element relative to the major element is stopped, and the two elements then swing as a single unit with no movement relative to each other.

The support may be of any desired construction. As shown in the drawings, it comprises a xed beam 10 on which are secured a pair of pivot eyes 11 in spaced relation to each other, the eyes being axially alined. Any ydesired means may be employed to support the beam 10, the means shown in thek drawings being ay pair of frames, indicated generally at 12, adapted to rest on the ground and supporting the'respective ends of the beam. Pivotally supported on a single axis by the eyes 1l is a iirst or major swinging element of the pendulum type which comprises, in the present This periodic swinging of instance, a pair of spaced bars 13 yrigidly connected at their upper ends by a cross-bar 14. Secured to the latter is a pair of pivot eyes 15 Vwhich are respectively pivoted to the pivot eyes 11 by means of a pair of coaxial pivot pins 16. Thus, the major swinging element is suspended upon a singleaxis. Y

Suspended from the major element a short distance above its lower end is asecond or minor swinging element. AIn the form shown inFigs.

1 to 4 inclusive, a pair of transverse members 20 are rigidly secured, as by a screw, at right angles to the respective bars 13 and a short distance above the lower ends thereof, each of said members being supported by a pair of angle braces 21. v To the respective ends of the transverse members 20, four suspension members 22 are pivotally at- ,tached as by a pair of pivot pins 23, each of which extends through both transverse members 20 and are secured against longitudinal movement as' by Cotter pins. The four suspension members 22 constitute the second or minor swinging element and are pivotally attached to a carriage, indicated vat 24, by a pair of pivot pins 2,5 extending through the carriage to opposite suspension members and secured against longitudinal movement as by cotter pins. The spacing of the pivots 23 is approximately one-third of the spacing of the pivots 25.

The pivot pins 25 at the lowerendsof the suspension members 22 are spaced, in the direc* tion of swinging, farther apart than are the pivot pins 23 at the upper ends of the suspension members, so that, when the minor element swings relative to the major element, the carriage willV rise on the side toward which it swings while lowering on the other side, in order to displace the weight of the rider or riders and thus permit swinging motion to be imparted to the major element.

The carriage 24 may be o1" any suitable construction, that shown in the drawings comprising a pair of spaced side boards 30 across the bottom of which are secured a plurality of slats 31 serving as foot rests and across the top thereof a pair of seats 32. Thus, when two persons ride in the swing, they face each other.

At the lower ends of the bars 13 constituting the major swinging element, a hand-bar 35 is rigidly secured, thus spacing said hand-bar from the points of suspension of the minor element and providing a leverage. Due to this leverage about the points of suspension of the minor element, a rider, when seated in the carriage, may periodically push or pull on the hand-bar and cause the carriage and minor swinging element to swing out of their normal alinement with the major swinging element, thus gradually imparting swinging motion to the latter.

In the modified form of swing shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a carriage, indicated at 40, is suspended from the bars 13, constituting the major swinging element, by four suspension members Li1 whose upper ends are pivoted to the bars 13, a short distance above the lower end thereof, two to each bar 13, by a pivot pin 42 extending through the four suspension members A1 and both bars 13 and secured against longitudinal movement as by cotter pins. Thus, the suspension members L11 together with the carriage form triangular frames pivoted at their apexes to the major swinging element.

The carriage 40 preferably comprises two pairs of side members 43, one pair for each pair of suspension members 41, rigidly secured at their ends to suspension members, the upper two side members supporting seats 44 and the lower two supporting slats 45 serving as foot rests.

In operation, one or more riders may occupy the seats and, to steady themselves, may grasp the hand-bar 35. To set the swing in motion,.the riders push or pull, as the case may be, on the hand-bar, causing the carriage and the minor element to swing out of alinement with the major'element, as shown in Fig. 2 in the case of the first form of structure. This movement of the minor element shifts the center of gravity of the moving parts of the swing and the riders so that the major element will then swing to compensate for such shift. The riders then periodically swing the minor element relativev to the major andthe latter gradually increases its range of swinging until its maximum range is attained. At this point, the force of gravity on the major element is such that the force tending to increase motion thereof is balanced.

It is to be noted that only a small movement of the minor element relative tothe major element is suiiicient to increase the swinging motion of the latter to its maximum, and that lthe relative movement of the minor element does not have to increase as the movement of the major element increases. In fact, when the swing has its maximum amplitude of movement, the riders need not cause as much hand-bar motion as at starting.

When it is desired to let the swing coast or gradually come to a stop, the riders may cease their eiort of pushing or pulling on the hand-bar and the carriage and minor swinging element will then assume a position in alinement with the major element, regardless of the position of the latter, as is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the two elements swinging as a single pendulum. It is due to this fact and to the small relative movement of the minor element that safety for the riders is assured, since there is no danger of a rider being forciblystruck by the hand-bar or other part.

From the above description, it will be apparent that I have provided a swing which may be easily actuated with ample safety for the riders, and which is simple and inexpensive to construct.

v Since the major element is in the form of a rigid frame suspended on two spaced pivots, there will be no lateral movement such as arises in swings employing chains or other flexible suspension means, and hence there is no danger that the swing will move laterally and collide with the frame members 12.

It will be evident from Figs. 1 and 2 that when the swing is rising, the seats are tilted in such a way thatl the child at the outer or upper side will not be thrown ofi" his seat by centrifugal force.

The construction herein disclosed may be said to consist of a swing (the minor element) attached to another swing (the major element).

It may be noted that a difference of weight of the riders does not cause the carriage to tip. u

A single rider can use the swing.

I claim as my invention:

l. A swine.r comprising, in combination, a support, a non-flexible swinging element suspended from said support upon a single axis, a carriage pivotally suspended on the free end of said swinging element and normally in alinement with said swinging element, and means rigid with said swinging element and positioned below the point of suspension of said carriage and in the plane Y of said element by which the rider may periodically move the carriage out of alinement with said swinging element to cause the latter to swing.

2. A swing comprising, in combination, a support, a swinging element pivotally suspended from Y said support upon a single axis, a carriage pivotally suspended on said swinging element adjacent the free end thereof and normally hanging in alinement therewith, and a hand-bar rigid with said swinging element and spaced below the point of suspension of said carriage, said handbar providing a leverage by which the rider may `periodically move said carriage out of alinement with said swinging element to cause the latter to swing. Y

3. A swing comprising, in combination, a sup,- port, a swinging element comprising a pair of spaced bars suspended from said support and coaxially pivoted'thereon, said bars lying at all times in a single plane including said pivot axis, a carriage pivotally suspended solely on said bars a short distance above the lower ends thereof and free to hang in alinement therewith throughout the movement of said swinging element, and a hand-bar immovably secured to said bars below the point of suspension of said carriage, said hand-bar providing a leverage by which the rider may periodically move said carriage out of alinement with said swinging element to cause the latter to swing. v

4. A swing comprising, in combination, a support, a major swinging element pivotally suspended from said support, a transverse member rigidly secured to said swinging element a short distance above the lower end thereof, a carriage, a pair of minor swinging elements having their upper ends secured to the respective ends of said transverse member and their lower ends secured at spaced points to the carriage, said lower ends being spaced farther apart than said upper ends, and a hand-bar secured to said major swinging element below said transverse member tol provide a leverage by which the rider may periodically swing said minor elements relative to said major element to cause the latter to swing.

5. A swing comprising, in combination, a support, a swinging element comprising a pair of spaced bars suspended from said support and coaXially pivoted thereon, a carriage, a pair of carriage suspending means secured to the respective sides of the carriage and suspended solely from the respective bars of said swinging element, each suspending means comprising a pair of members pivoted to said bar a short distance above the lower end thereof at points spaced in the direction of swinging and pivoted to said carriage at points spaced in the direction of swinging, and a hand-bar rigidly secured to said swinging element below the upper pivotal points of said members, said hand-bar providing a leverage by which the rider may periodically swing said members relative to said swinging element to cause the latter to swing. l

6. A swing comp ising, in combination, a support, a major swinging element pivotally suspended on a single axis from said support, a minor swinging element comprising a triangular frame having its apex pivoted to said major swinging element a short distance above the lower end thereof, the base of said triangular frame constituting a carriage, and a hand-bar rigidly secured to said major swinging element below the pivotal point of said minor swinging element to provide a leverage by which the rider may swing said minor element relative to said major element to cause the latter to swing.

7. A swing comprising, in combination, a support, a major swinging element comprising a pair of spaced bars suspended from said supportand coaXially pivoted thereon, said bars and axis lying in a single plane, a minor swinging element comprising a pair of triangular frames having their apexes pivoted to the respective bars a short distance above the lower end thereof with the axis of said pivot lying in said plane, a carriage extending between said frames and secured to the bases thereof, and a hand-bar securedl inv said plane and to saidV bars below the pivotal point of said minor element to provide a leverage by which the rider may swing said minor element relative to said major element to cause the latter to swing.

8. In combination, a rigid main swinging structure, a secondary seat-carrying structure, suspension means pivotally connecting the secondary structure to the main structure, said means comprising members non-parallel to each other and relatively movable, and hand-hold means connected to the main structure.

9. In a swing, the combination of a suspension element, members pivotally attached to said element at their upper ends, a carriage carried by said members at the lower ends thereof, said lower ends being spaced in the direction of swinging, and a hand-bar immovable relative to said element whereby said carriage may be swung relative to said element.

10. In a swing, the combination of a suspension element, a carriage, suspension Vmeans for said carriage comprisingk a pair of members pivotally attached at their upper ends to said element, the lower ends of said members being attached to said carriage at points spaced in the direction of swinging, a pair of seats mounted on said lcarriage substantially over the points of attachment of the respective members to said carriage, and a hand-bar secured to said element whereby said carriage may be swung relative to said element.

11. In a swing, the combination of a suspension element, a carriage, suspension means for said carriage comprising a pair of members pivotally attached at their upper ends to said element, the lower ends of said members being attached to said carriage adjacent the respective ends of the latter, a pair of seats mounted on said carriage adjacent the respective ends thereof and facing each other, and a hand-bar secured to said element below the upper ends of said members and positioned intermediate the seats whereby it may be grasped by an occupant in either seat to swing the carriage relative to said element. 12. In a swing, the combination of a suspension element, a carriage, suspension means for said carriage comprising a pair of members having their upper ends pivoted to said element at points spaced in the direction of swinging and having their lowerY ends pivoted to 4said carriage at points farther apart than said upper ends, and a hand-bar secured to said element below the upper ends of said members and positioned between said members whereby the carriage may be swung relative to said element.

CONRAD DAHL. 

